Red Sox's first championship since 1918 voted top sports story

There was no Commissioner's Trophy the last time the Boston Red Sox won the World Series.

No commissioner, in fact.

So when the Red Sox won it all for the first time since 1918, they didn't think it would be right to stick their trophy on a shelf somewhere to gather dust.

Instead, they took it to every state in New England, to a fan hangout in California and the team's academy in the Dominican Republic, to Christmas tree lightings and churches and nursing homes, where octogenarians have waited all their lives to see their favorite team win just once.

At the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where they treat sick children thanks in part to the Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund, the trophy caused such a hubbub when pitcher Tim Wakefield brought it by last week that order, finally, had to be restored.

"I just want to get some kids up here!" activities coordinator Lisa Scherber shouted as the patients, too young to understand, watched their parents pose for pictures with the prize. "We've got a lot of adults."

The Red Sox rallied back from a 3-0 series deficit to stun the Yanks in the ALCS, then swept St. Louis in the World Series. (AP)

The World Series trophy has been a much-welcomed and well-traveled guest this offseason. And how it got to be that way is the sports story of the year, according to a vote by the newspaper and broadcast members of the Associated Press.

Boston's first World Series title since 1918 and the unprecedented comeback against the Yankees that made it possible was a runaway winner with 108 first-place votes and 1,325 points.

Lance Armstrong's sixth straight Tour de France title (seven first-place votes, 785 points) finished second and the Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons brawl was third (six first-place votes, 662 points).

The New England Patriots' Super Bowl victory and 21-game winning streak was next (zero first-place votes, 498 points), followed by sports' steroid stories (eight first-place votes, 495 points).

Merely winning the Series after an 86-year drought probably would have been enough to make the Red Sox the year's top story. But the way they did it was one for the ages.

After falling five outs short of the World Series last year and firing their manager because of it, the Red Sox acquired Curt Schilling, the top starting pitcher on the market, and Keith Foulke, the top reliever.

Their pursuit of Alex Rodriguez -- a deal that would have involved unloading Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez -- ended late in 2003. But before spring training got started the reigning AL MVP went to the hated Yankees -- thanks in part to the groundwork the Red Sox had done.